WELCOME TO EduCTX

ABOUT EduCTX INITIATIVE

EduCTX Initiative Invitation

The EduCTX blockchain platform rests on the idea that all globally distributed institution join forces together in order to build an efficient, simplified, ubiquitous solution for a student's credit assignment, while eliminating language and administrative obstacles which arise when dealing with credit transfers and certification on a broader or global scale. Therefore, we invite anyone interested to join the EduCTX initiative (more information is available at eductx.org), so that the EduCTX idea can be further discussed and developed.

We also encourage all institutions, especially those already having the ECTS accredited system, to join the EduCTX blockchain network, thus helping spread and add to the security of the network. For further information, please contact us at: eductx@um.si.

Motivation & Challenges

Motivation & Challenges

A modern society is increasingly transformed into a knowledge society. Knowledge and skills that individuals acquire during their lifetime contribute to personal and professional growth. The acquisition of knowledge and skills is becoming more and more diverse. Different types of education and other ways of acquiring knowledge and skills, represent a challenge for individuals and organizations in terms of simple verification of their authenticity, their sharing and safekeeping. Equally challenging is the international dimension of education and related language barriers, as well as administrative barriers. The aforementioned challenges cause additional costs and are time-consuming for all involved stakeholders.

Skills and knowledge include: (1)formal forms of education, such as finished learning units, diplomas, and certificates awarded by organizations and companies; (2)informal forms of education, such as attendance of events, membership in organizations, publications (professional articles, scientific articles, reports, technical documentation), and (3) other skills and knowledge such as learning assistance, education of the elderly, etc.

In order to address these challenges, we propose a digital platform and ecosystem EduCTX, which is based on the distributed ledger technology - blockchain.

Purpose and objectives

Motivation & Challenges

The blockchain technology enables the creation of a decentralized and distributed environment in which transactions and data are not controlled by one central authority. Hence, the EduCTX platform is a global, decentralized platform for assigning, managing, storing, sharing and showcasingdigital micro certificates based on blockchain technology. The flexibility and transparency of the digital platform enables greater integration and involvement of various stakeholders in the economy, and opens the door to international space and connectivity with other organizations and digital ecosystems.

The EduCTX solution will process, manage and control ECTX tokens of different types and transactions, based on a globally distributed P2P (Peer-To-Peer) network, which in a reliable and transparent way serves as a proof of acquired skills and knowledge of individuals in the form of digital micro certificates (Figure 1). Peers of the P2P network include organizational stakeholders. At the same time, it enables the development of digital services, offering organizations the possibility of automated evaluation of skills and knowledge of individuals. Furthermore the transactions are non-repudiative, safe, comprehensive and trustworthy, as they employ cryptographic principles. Every completed transaction is recorded and kept in a publicly available ledger in a verifiable, anonymized and durable manner.

Digital micro certificates can be credit points that students acquire for completed learning units or transactions that represent awarded trusted organization certificates. Tokenization within the platform can be based on the concept of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), thus each token represents one ECTS point or can be configured to represent other 'currencies' that any trusted certified authority being part of the EduCTX system could define..

Focus

Focus

The platform is the basis of the EduCTX initiative (eductx.org), which aims to bring together different stakeholders to create a globally effective, simplified and comprehensive environment with the aim of avoiding language and administrative barriers. The EduCTX initiative addresses the mission and social responsibility of educational institutions and the expectations of new generations. Using a digital platform based on the blockchain technology, we will help to modernize processes, develop and deploy innovative digital services.

Using the EduCTX platform, we can shorten the time-consuming and costly burdensome processes of existing organizations, speed up the acquisition of data for individuals, thus achieving a more efficient e-country at EU level, benefiting public administration. This living digital ecosystem of a circular economy will naturally expand according to the needs and requirements of the new generations of digital natives.

It should be noted that the EduCTX platform does not modify or redefine the current systems of evaluation and validation of completed learning obligations that have been established in different countries, but complement them by increasing transparency and automation to optimize processes related to education at all levels and in all forms. Due to the different legislative frameworks and practices, the coexistence of both systems is a highly probable scenario. The mentioned benefits of the EduCTX platform will facilitate the evaluation and validation of the education background of economic and non-economic migrants.

For the various stakeholders there are several advantages of using the EduCTX platform. Through the solution, educational institutions and other organizations can provide potential employers with the opportunity to verify the acquired knowledge and skills of potential employees in a transparent way. Additionally, employers can use the platform as the fundament for automated decision support services. Individuals can use the platform as a global portfolio for their knowledge and skills. Furthermore, enables policy makers the modernization and optimization of their processes.

The EduCTX platform enables to detect and prevent fraud associated with falsification of documents and certificates. Also, the EduCTX platform enables the establishment of an audit trail.

Current State

Focus

The EduCTX platform, in its current version, includes ECTX tokens that are equivalent to credit points obtained by the student in the form of digital micro certificates for completed learning units (courses, diplomas, etc.) - similar to the ECTS credits system. The student has a dedicated EduCTX wallet where ECTX tokens are stored, which a given institution has assigned to the student for the completed learning units. At the end of the learning unit, the institution transfers the student an appropriate number of ECTX tokens to the address of his / her wallet. Transaction data are stored on the EduCTX network. These data include a known sender, such as an institution with an official title, an anonymous student who receives ECTX tokens and a value (the amount of ECTX tokens). The student, as the recipient of ECTX tokens, will be able to prove the acquired skills and knowledge in the form of digital micro certificates using the data available on the EduCTX platform. Additionally, the platform prevents the student from transferring the acquired ECTX tokens to others. This is only allowed for authorized institutions and organizations that have the privilege to award tokens.

Each accredited institution or organization can join the EduCTX platform. When joining the network, it is verified and is expected to establish a network node. In this way it will contribute to the expansion and maintenance of global infrastructure and network security.

The current EduCTX solution is based on the Ethereum blockchain platform, using the »Proof of Authority« consensus mechanism. It is implemented as a private/consortium network. Transaction costs are set up to zero, therefore there is no gas consumption. Thus, the system is not energy and cost wasting. New certified authorities can be added into the platform through the voting system implemented with the smart contracts. Certified authorities can opt for being a nodes and help the system become more secure and robust.